Italy's West Coast Tour: Cinque Terre to the Amalfi Coast

The aroma of frothy cappuccino fills Caffè degli Specchi, which is a popular, local bar that is known for serving decadent coffees along a wooden porch where locals enjoy watching the crowds. The city of Genoa returns to life in the morning with the returning sunlight that glints against the glass dome of Acquario di Genoa, which is the celebrated aquarium. Your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you south toward the five towns of Cinque Terre at Monterosso al Mare.

You will stop along the way to enjoy the comfortable and often-overlooked seaside towns between Genoa and Cinque Terre, indulging in the scents of the Mediterranean Sea and sporadic scents of freshly baked focaccia bread. You will reach the bustling resort town of Santa Margherita Ligure, whose seaside promenade will take you back in time to the grandeur of 17th-century villas. Palm trees rustle in the breeze and fountains add an illustrious trickle of water to the sounds of lapping waves. The Baroque church of Santuario di Nostra Signora della Rosa contains sophisticated frescoes that shine with gold embellishments and carvings.

You can continue to the town of Rapallo for views of the picturesque castle as it rises above the small harbor, regal seaside esplanade, and calming water. The stronghold was built in the 16th century as a safeguard against pirate attacks and remains a fantastic image of the town as it is set above the waves. The center boasts gorgeous boutique shops with large windows that juxtapose the antique facades that are painted with bright colors and line the streets between the ancient walls and Saline Gate.

The small town of Monterosso al Mare stands as the most Northern of the five towns of the renowned Cinque Terre. The long stretch of beach brightens the morning with colorful umbrellas that shade rows of lounge chairs, looking out to the sapphire waters of the Ligurian Sea. The scent of basil will fill the air, deriving from the terraced gardens that rise along the surrounding cliffs. After breakfast, the day will be yours to explore the depths of the town’s history, spreading from the 16th-century fortification that is known as the Aurora Tower to the colossal statue of Neptune that clings to the seaside cliffs and stands 46 feet above sea level. You can take to the former donkey trail that winds through hillsides and connects the towns, or you can travel between each town by short train rides that first connected the Cinque Terre to the outside world in the late 19th century.

You will meet your guide in the town of Manarola in the afternoon and will be interested in learning more about the wines of the particular region. Your guide will lead you into the terraces for a better perspective of the unique ways in which local farmers and winemakers have contained the elements along the steep, maritime mountains. The grapes may feel waxy between your fingers while the air contains aromas of arid soil and the sea breeze. At a local cellar, your guide will pour a sample of the wines that are produced in the region, ending with a taste of the Sciacchetrà, which is a sweet wine that possesses aromas of candied orange, dried fig, and hazelnut.

Your private guide will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast and escort you by boat to the Gulf of Poets for an exceptional exploration of the land and sea that once captivated the likes of Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, beginning with Porto Venere. The mist that rises from the hull of the boat sprays the air as you revel in the marvelous views of the sapphire water and rugged coastline and pass the colorful towns that are scattered between the cliffs. The town of Porto Venere has ancient foundations that once acted as a Roman base that was used on a shipping route between Gaul and Spain. The gates retain Latin inscriptions that hover above the entrance of Via Capellini. The 16th-century Doria Castle looms atop the hill that overlooks the water and Romanesque church of San Pietro. Water taxis crisscross along the sea, taking visitors from the promenade to the nearby island of Palmaria.

After wandering along the sea and through the cobbled lanes, you will continue to the town of Lerici. The Etruscans settled the area, giving way to Roman foundations and economic advancement under the reign of the Republic of Genoa. The natural beauty of the gulf accentuates the majesty of the castle as it rises above the cliffs over Montemarcello-Magra Regional Nature Park. A Roman ship from the 1st century BC lingers beneath the waves where advanced divers can find remnants of marble and massive columns among the ruins while the town fills with the aromas of mussel soup and onions that have been fried in olive oil.

The aroma of lemon trees will overtake the scent of the sea in the morning after breakfast. Before reaching Florence, you will visit the towns of Lucca and Pisa for different perspectives of the history and charms of Tuscany. Shaded promenades that wind around the preserved city walls lead to the interior piazzas that are lined with charming cafes. The scent of espresso becomes prominent around the medieval streets with locals who sip their morning coffee and nibble on freshly baked pastries.

The thick, impressive defensive walls were built between the 16th and 17th centuries on foundations that were laid by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. The walls stand nearly 40 feet tall and reach more than two miles long. Trees, grass, and viewpoints create an enchanting ambiance that adorns the former defensive structure. Inside the city, you will see the Romanesque cathedral of San Martino, which dates back to the 11th century. The façade boasts a unique combination of Lucca and Pisan design, which hides reliefs that were crafted by Nicola Pisano.

You will continue to the famous city of Pisa, which once ruled the seas of the Italian Peninsula before the rise of Genoa. The captivating city has become synonymous with the Leaning Tower with its distinctive four-degree list and iconic Pisan architectural aesthetic. Beyond the tower, you will find the sensational history of the Campo Santo, which is the legendary burial complex that was crafted out of soil that was taken from the Golgotha during the Fourth Crusade. Your guide will point out the history of the artwork on the walls with a portion of the frescoes being restored after melting during an allied bombing in World War II. The sinópie will capture your attention and showcase the detailed composition of the fresco that is made by the actual artist instead of the students or assistants.

The city of Florence contains the mouthwatering aromas of freshly baked brioche that is stuffed with hazelnut cream and accompanied by the scent of fresh espresso as it drifts out of the neighborhood bars. This is where locals tend to enjoy a cup before venturing to work. Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and will be excited to introduce you to the marvels of Florence, taking you from beneath the exceptional dome of the Duomo to the fascinating jewelry stores that line the charming shops on the Ponte Vecchio as it arches over the banks of the Arno River. Inside the Uffizi Gallery, your guide will provide greater context for the artwork that is on display, representing the evolution of artwork in Tuscany between the 13th and 18th centuries. You can stop and marvel at the masterful works of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Cimabue, and Veneziano in addition to the stunning Birth of Venus by Botticelli. The incredible parable captures the essence of beauty as it blends Classical mythology and Christian theology.

In the afternoon, you will meet a private chef for a remarkable cooking class that will offer insight into the traditions of Tuscan cuisine that will be revealed in the ingredients, preparation, and satisfying flavors of your multi-course meal. You will enter the private kitchen and notice the subtle, lingering aromas of simmering onions, olive oil, garlic, and tomato. Your chef will then guide you through the process of crafting fresh, traditional noodles such as pappardelle, which you will later cook with minced meat and stew in a sauce for the rich, indulgent part of your meal. You will also experience a hardy, customary flavor that is based on the Tuscan cooking traditions of the Cucina Povera.

The bells of Campanile ring in the morning, reverberating against the medieval architecture at the heart of the city and pealing along the cobbled lanes that encircle the dramatic dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. The rich aroma of leather lingers along the lanes of the San Lorenzo Market as you travel south in a first-class coach that is bound for the city of Naples. Your private guide will greet you at the train station and introduce you to the amazing history that is on display in Pompeii, which is a city that has been preserved in up to 20 feet of ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. You will follow your guide along the wide boulevards and small walkways that create the rigid grid on which all the Roman cities were planned. You will view the ancient Roman Forum, where pillars and platforms connote the importance of the plaza at the center of civic and religious life.

The Villa dei Misteri captures the grandeur and wealth of the famous Roman port city with 90 rooms that represent one of the most complete structures that have been left standing after the eruption. The Dionysia frieze overtakes an entire wall of the dining room and dates back to the 1st century BC, depicting a woman who is draped in fabric at the beginnings of a private ritual. At the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, you will have the opportunity to follow the short path that leads to the summit at 4,203 feet above sea level. You can gaze down into the depths of the fuming crater that will show the continued vitality of its geothermal activity, or you can turn and look out over the turquoise water that sweeps across the Bay of Naples.

The tranquil town of Positano is the most Western on the Amalfi Coast, and it embodies the elegance, history, and dramatic views for which the greater, 25-mile stretch of shoreline is known. The scent of lemons will be the strongest in the morning, stemming from the terraced orchards that spread across the steep cliffs. Your private driver will meet you at the hotel after breakfast and ferry you between the fabled towns of the Amalfi Coast at your preferred pace, beginning with the treasured walkways of Positano.

The aroma of leather will drift out of a small shoemaker’s workshop where the cobbler crafts handmade sandals while guests wander along the cobbled lanes. The houses shine with pastel colors that were nearly built atop one another on the rugged limestone cliffs that overlook the calming, sapphire waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is broken only by the remnants of the 13th-century watchtowers and the cupola of the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta that glistens with decorative majolica tiles.

You will continue to the town of Amalfi, after which the eponymous coast was named. The former power and wealth of the town remains prevalent along the main streets and can be revealed in the preserved grandeur of the Duomo. Elegant shops lead to the central square where 60 steps climb to the entrance. You will find the captivating Byzantine doors that date back to the 11th century, acting as the entrance portal to the lavish cathedral that is set beneath Arabesque arches. The interior Cloister of Paradise contains a hidden forest of pillars and archways.

You will sail along the Tyrrhenian Sea in the morning on a ferry that is bound for the island of Capri, finding the maritime cliffs that reach upwards of 200 feet tall. The funicular connects the Marina Grande to the Piazzetta where cafes fill the square with tables, chairs, and mouthwatering aromas of fresh espresso. You can enjoy the ambiance by looking past the funicular for impressive views over the water and by looking back at the ridges of the Bay of Naples and along the Amalfi Coast. The splendors of Capri will be yours to explore and experience at your leisure, so you can choose to take to the narrow lanes of Capri Town that are lined with sophisticated boutique shops and elegant restaurants, or you can visit the cathedral of Anacapri that floats above the surrounding island atop 500 stone steps.

The 18th-century church of San Michele reflects with majolica tiles that are spread across the floor, depicting images from the Book of Genesis when Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden. The chairlift that leads from Piazza Vittoria can take you to the summit of Monte Solaro at 1,929 feet above sea level for a majestic panorama of the Faraglioni sea stacks, distant coastline, and the 16th-century monastery of Cetrella. Upon returning to Positano, you will meet your private chef for a different perspective of Italian cuisine that will focus on the regional specialty of Neapolitan pizza. The sensational flavors stem from local, seasonal ingredients with the simple collection of ingredients that will shine with every bite. You will dig your fingers into the flour and shape the necessary dough as you craft the famous dish as you follow a locally celebrated recipe.

At breakfast, you can enjoy the subtle aromas of lemon and oranges as they emanate from the nearby orchards and blend into the relaxing scent of the sea breeze. The sunlight will once again wash over the water in the morning, highlighting the sapphire hues of the water. Your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast and escort you around the looming summit of Mount Vesuvius, around the Bay of Naples, and away from the ships that glide through the harbor of the city to reach Naples International Airport for your flight home.